Trump tower Chicago complaint: Bright lights are a big pain

330 N. Wabash lights up the night -- every night -- for condo owner at Trump International Hotel and Tower

April 22, 2009|By Bonnie Miller Rubin, Tribune Reporter

Katie Tarbox looked forward to a bright future in her new 37th-floor condominium at Trump International Hotel and Tower.

But this isn't quite what she had in mind.

After moving into her digs earlier this month, Tarbox discovered an unsettling feature at bedtime: The one-bedroom unit (list price: $952,000 and up) is flooded with light like a night game at Wrigley, she said.

The culprit? Her across-the-street neighbor at 330 N. Wabash (formerly known as the IBM Building), where some floors are illuminated around the clock.

"Think of it like having a huge, permanent night light on all the time," lamented the magazine editor, who did not sleep a wink that first night. (She has since resorted to wearing two sets of eye masks.) Aside from her fatigue, "it's just a complete waste of energy."

Actually, it's just old-fashioned work ethic, said Jeff Patterson, president and CEO of Prime Group Realty Trust, which owns and manages the Mies van der Rohe skyscraper. The law firm of Jenner & Block occupies 10 floors and operates 24 hours a day, he said.

All this is little comfort to Tarbox, who thought she was in "real estate heaven" but now feels like she's living in the "Seinfeld" episode when Kramer was tortured by a Kenny Rogers Roasters sign.

She has lodged a complaint with the Trump staff -- the only one the company says it has received. Until the situation gets resolved, Tarbox has two words for guests: Wear sunglasses.

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brubin@tribune.com

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